442 – License To Drill

However, the simple fact remained that many experienced coaches did not perform to the level expected on this course and failed their first assessments. In hindsight, I think the FFA are aware this might happen which explains why there's a full week between the first and the second assessment, giving people time to absorb their first effort and have time to adapt accordingly. After waiting in line like a 39-year-old naughty schoolboy outside the headmaster's office, I'm called in to see Alistair and Harry and I'm pleasantly surprised - and very relieved - to be told I passed my first practical by the skin of my teeth with a mark of 72 percent.

It's around this time where my attitude towards the course and coaching changed and I quickly became convinced of three things. Firstly, I had the potential to make a good coach; secondly, I realised how committed I now was to passing this course; and thirdly, if I passed it I made a promise to myself to do something with it.

It might sound like new age twaddle but I felt I owed that much to myself, my teammates who were doing the hard yards alongside me and to the instructors. I realised I'd feel a bit of a fraud if I did this course and did nothing with it as I had 20 years ago in the UK.

The middle weekend saw some light relief with only eight hours on the pitch over the two days and no lectures and Saturday morning I was put through my paces by Tony Franken, the current Socceroos goalkeeping coach. It's safe to say he had plenty of scope to work with as my keeping skills would be on a par with the 11 and 12 year olds this course is aimed at. That said the improvement in my positioning and handling is significant even in 90 minutes of work.

Practical assessment two is upon us and I'm tested on just how much of Franken's session I actually absorbed as I'm coaching goalkeepers on how to narrow the angle. This time I plan my session once and stick to it. Even though I'm not the best keeper myself I find it easy to articulate what I'm looking for from the players and I really enjoy putting on my second session. I'm confident in my subject, the session flows well and I get some genuine improvements from the lads I'm coaching. I get some great feedback for Harry afterwards and feel confident I've passed, giving me the two passes I need for the practical side of things.

Overall there's a marked improvement across the board as people are now much more aware of what the instructor's are looking for and (whether they like it or not) what is required to reach the necessary standard. I get my mark for my second assessment and I'm delighted with an 82 percent mark which takes the pressure off somewhat as I've now achieved the two passes required to pass the course. I'm feeling good about myself until I have to get changed back into my single pair of tracksuit bottoms, which are now starting to get a life of their own and as I head to dinner I'm not sure whether it's the pants or my feet leading the way.

In between the second and third practicals we sit down to watch Australia vs Japan from the World Cup with our newly educated eyes. Alistair leads the laser pointer assisted analysis and we work through frame by frame looking at the plentiful examples of "width and depth" and the Socceroos adopting four man diamonds all over the pitch. It seems Guus was indeed a new age disciple and the players responded.

It really is an enlightening session but I become acutely aware that it's taken 45 minutes to watch the first eight minutes of the game and some on-the-fly mental arithmetic tells me at this rate it's going to be another seven hours or so until we see Timmy's historic first goal. Luckily, someone cracks a joke and amid the laughter Alistair presses the wrong button and we return to the main menu screen. It's the first thing he's mis-controlled all course but we all agree it's best to fast forward to the goals as people have assessments that afternoon.

For some the third practicals are tension packed affairs as many need a pass to stay in the game. For others, like myself, the pressure is off but I still wanted to pass to get the full house. I have another shooting session and to be honest I let myself down by probably being a bit too overconfident and forgetting the basics. That said I did enjoy one moment of stepping in and demonstrating a curling side foot finish which I nailed into the top corner and had to resist the urge to wheel away to the corner flag to celebrate. I remember just in time that I'm now a coach not a player, instead opting for the wry smile and a nod at the group as if I do that every day. I'm fooling no-one and they all piss themselves laughing.

The theory exams presented their own challenges for the group, primarily remembering things you were told over a week ago and hand writing answers for an hour and a half, something I haven't done since I left university. The first practical exam focused on the content of the lectures such as nutrition, skill acquisition and the role of a coach, while the second was more coaching focused including planning out two sessions on paper.

We congregate for the closing ceremony where everyone's presented with a team photo, a medal and certificate of attendance. All that's left to do now is wait the for the AFC to ratify the results. Those successful then receive their C Certificate along with a log book in which they have to record 50 hours coaching at a suitable level before being granted the C Licence. Then over a two year period, each C Licence holder has to rack up enough credits to hold onto their licence and after those two years those wishing to progress can apply for their B Licence. I return to my room relieved things are over but even more relieved to finally be able to free myself from my trackie bottoms.

The scope of what I learnt over the two weeks has only really sunk in during the weeks following the course. I now don't feel comfortable taking a seat in a bar or restaurant unless I have four props such beer bottles, salt and pepper pots or coins with which to demonstrate "width and depth" to anyone prepared to listen. The more I talk about it the more I'm looking forward to putting it into practice. As the emails rolled in from the other coaches on the course I realise we were probably too busy to appreciate the friendships we were developing are ones that will last for as long as we remain in football.

And as for my promise to myself? I have now been accepted as one the coaches for the under-11 Sutherland Shire Development Squad for 2009 and will be spending Monday evenings developing some of the elite juniors in my area. The season can't start soon enough and I'm looking forward to keeping for the over-35s after my Franken masterclass!

Like many areas of football in Australia, the coaching pathways are still a work in progress. The instructors stressed the content of the course had developed massively from the first group who took it a year prior and was likely to develop again as a result of our feedback. Just as our national and club teams are getting to grips with the challenges of Asia so are our coaching educators getting to grips with making the courses relevant for Australian coaches whilst still adhering to the AFC guidelines. I only hope next year's group get two pairs of tracksuit pants. 

Thanks to all the coaches on the course and Lisa Gatt, who made it all happen.